MegaMotion Rascal Venture 3-Wheel: a five-piece travel scooter

The Rascal Venture 3-Wheel is now on our shelf. MegaMotion sells it as model RSC39, and it belongs to the family of scooters you take with you rather than leave in the garage. Its party trick is Swift Release, MegaMotion's name for the way the scooter separates into five pieces, so it can ride in a car trunk and be put back together at the other end (MegaMotion: Rascal Venture 3-Wheel).

Who it suits

Three wheels mean a narrow nose and a tight turn. MegaMotion points to grocery store aisles and similar close quarters as the places this layout is meant for. If most of your riding is indoors, in shops or along smooth sidewalks, and you need a scooter that can follow you to a daughter's house or a weekend away, the Venture 3-Wheel is aimed squarely at you.

It is also a sensible choice when the person loading it is not the strongest lifter in the family. Without its batteries the scooter weighs 76.5 lbs, and that weight is spread over several parts. The battery pack on its own is 20 lbs. Check those numbers against what you or your helper can lift comfortably before you buy.

Key specs

Figures from MegaMotion's specification sheet:

• Model number: RSC39
• Weight capacity: 300 lbs.
• Speed (maximum): 4 mph
• Range per charge: up to 10.1 miles at 200 lbs.; up to 8.1 miles at 300 lbs.
• Turning radius: 33 in.
• Reversing width (K-turn): 42 in.
• Total weight without batteries: 76.5 lbs.
• Battery pack weight: 20 lbs.
• Seat: 17 in. wide x 17 in. deep, 22.7 lbs.
• Maximum rated slope: 6°
• Maximum obstacle climbing: 2 in.

Living with it

The seat swivels, which helps when you step off to the side rather than straight ahead, and the armrests lift out of the way and can be set wider or narrower to suit the rider. A seat that turns and arms that clear the path make getting on and off less of a squeeze, especially beside a car or a dining chair. The tires are 8-inch solids at both ends, so there is nothing to pump up before a trip. Range depends on the load: the published figure is up to 10.1 miles for a 200 lb rider and up to 8.1 miles at the full 300 lbs, on a pair of 12Ah sealed lead-acid batteries.

Before you order, measure the trunk or cargo area where it will travel and the tightest corner in your home. A 33-inch turning radius is small, but your hallway is the one that counts. Our four-wheel Venture trades some of that turning room for a broader stance, so it is worth comparing the two.

In the box

MegaMotion lists one item with the scooter:

• Front basket

Warranty

Mega Motion publishes these terms in its scooter warranty (Rascal scooter warranty):

• Structural frame (main frame, seat post, fork, tiller frame): three years limited
• Transaxle, motor brake (electronic function), bearings, bushings, brake and electronic assemblies: two years limited
• Batteries: six months
• Original purchaser only
• Labor, service calls and shipping are not covered unless authorized in advance by Mega Motion
• Register online, by phone or with the form in the packaging

Also on the shelf

If the Venture 3-Wheel is close but not quite right, these travel scooters are worth a look:

• MegaMotion Venture 4-Wheel: the same Rascal family on four wheels.
• Pride Go Go Ultra X 3-Wheel: another three-wheel travel scooter that comes apart into five pieces.
• Golden Buzzaround XL 3-Wheel: a three-wheel option that Golden says comes apart in four steps.

Compare every model side by side in our mobility scooters collection.

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See the MegaMotion Rascal Venture 3-Wheel on Faith Mobility.

Sources

• MegaMotion: Rascal Venture 3-Wheel
• MegaMotion: Rascal Venture 3-Wheel specifications
• MegaMotion: Rascal scooter warranty (PDF)